Sunflower House

Happy National Forensic Interviewers Week!
Q&A: How do forensic interviewers help children feel comfortable during an interview? 💛

Every child deserves to feel safe, heard, and respected.

Before talking about difficult topics, forensic interviewers spend time building rapport. They explain what to expect using age-appropriate language, encourage children to speak in their own words, and let them know it's okay to say, "I don't know," or "I don't understand."

Interview rooms are intentionally designed to feel welcoming rather than intimidating, helping children feel as comfortable as possible. Throughout the conversation, interviewers remain patient, neutral, and supportive, allowing children to share at their own pace.

Creating an environment where children feel safe to speak is one of the most important parts of the process.

This week is National Forensic Interviewers Week! 💛

Forensic interviewers play a vital role in child abuse investigations by providing a safe, child-focused environment where children can share their experiences when concerns of abuse arise.

At Sunflower House, our three specially trained forensic interviewers help ensure children are heard while reducing the need for them to repeatedly recount difficult experiences. These rooms are home to some of the hardest conversations a child may ever have, but they are also where healing can begin.

Throughout the week, we're recognizing the important work forensic interviewers do to support children, families, and multidisciplinary teams across our community. Their compassion, expertise, and dedication help create a path toward safety, justice, and hope for the children we serve!

What your support made possible this year 💛

So far as we wrap up this fiscal year, Sunflower House reached 47,292 children with prevention education, giving them the tools to recognize unsafe situations and speak up when they need help. Thanks to supporters like you, we're reaching more children than ever before.

As we look ahead, more than 130,000 students in our service area could benefit from this life-changing education. Help us continue growing our impact by becoming a Petals of Promise monthly donor today: https://bit.ly/4es9dhe.

Thank you for helping create safer futures for children. 🌻